Sir,
If you will be present at the Vestry Room of the Church with your Child <1> & the Sponsors on Friday at half past three in the afternoon, I shall be in attendance for the Christening. I would willingly attend it any other hour, but I name this as the most convenient, & you seem to say that one hour will suit you as well as another.– Tomorrow (Thursday) if Mrs Talbot <2> comes, the churching service shall be performed. It is very short. The usual time is either half past eleven in the morning, or twenty minutes past three in the afternoon. Mrs Talbot will either present herself in the Vestry Room at either of those hours – or, if she should prefer it, she shall be welcome to enter at my house, & sit down (in case she should have to wait a minute or two) in my Study, which Communicates with the Vestry Room.
I have the honor to be, Sir Yr Obdt hble St
J.G.Ward
Rectory House
Wednesday June 3d
Notes:
1. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835-1893), their first child, who was born on 25 April.
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.